Stiffening-plate for vehicle-shafts.



N0. 66l,827. Patented Nov. l3, I900.

c. E. STONE.

STIFFENING PLATE FOB VEHICLE SHAFTS.

ion filed Sept. l7, 1900.)

[NI ENTO R (No Model.)

T/VZJWESS% NITED STATES FFICE.

ATENT CHARLES EDWIN Sronn, on AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR orONE-HALF TO THE AMESBURY PNEUMATIC GEAR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STl FFENlNGr-PL ATE FORVEHICLE-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,827, dated November13, 1900.

Application filed S t b r 17,1900. b'erial No. 30,302. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES EDWIN STONE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Amesbury, in the county of- Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBraces or Stiffening-Plates for Vehicle-Shafts; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being bad to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to improve the construction ofvehicle-shafts, whereby the same are materially strengthened at theircurvedor rear ends, rendered more durable, and presenting a neat andfinished appearance at that end of the shaft where it couples to thevehicle, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l of the drawingsis a perspective view of the curved end of avehicle-shaftembodying my invention, the outer end of said shaft beingshown in section; Fig. 2, a detail viewin perspective of the brace orstiffening-plate.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the curved or rear end of awooden vehicle-shaft of the usual construction in which is formed aslot, kerf, or mortise 0;. I prefer to form a mortise extending only apart way through the shaftand continuing throughout through whichsuitable screws or rivetsc extend as a means of securing the plate tothe shaft.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any specialmeans for holding the brace or stiffening-plate in the mortise andfastening it to the shaft, as any suitable and well known means may beemployed as found most desirable.

The plate B at its inner end has a shank d integral therewith andterminating at its outer extremity in a suitable shaft-eye c of theusual construction.

The end of the brace or stiffening-plate B may be provided withanysnitable and wellknown means necessary to form in part thecouplingbetween the shafts and fore axle of the vehicle, the'eye 6 beingshown to illustrate one of many means that may be used.

The plate B enters the curved end of the shaft both diametrically andlengthwise thereof, thereby materially strengthening the curved-end ofthe shaft and reducing its weight over the ordinary shaftdrons, and alsosecures greater rigidity and stiffness to the end of the shaft, andbeing edgewise with relation to the shaft the plate is capable of beingsecured to the shaft with comparatively little trouble and expenditureoftime, and when so applied the shaft will have a neat and finishedappearance withall the strength and durability necessary in avehicle-shaft at its curved or coupling end.

It will be noticed thatthe brace or strengthening-plate B is curvededgewise in contradistinction to flatwise, thereby bringing thecouplingeye in proper position when the plate is secured inthe'shaft,,the eye being integral with the plate and at a right anglevehicle-shafts, said plate having flat sides and curved edgewise andadapted to enter the body of the shaft and terminating at its inner endin a coupling-eye, said eye being integral with the plate and at a rightangle to the sides thereof, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

ICO

3. A curved brace or stifiening-plate for and curved edgewise andadapted to-enter the purpose described.

CHARLES EDWIN STONE.

Witnesses:

DUDLEY J. MARSTON, EDWARD P. WALLACE;

vehicle-shafts, said plate having flat sides the body of the'shaft andterminating at its inner end in a shank with coupling-eye integral withthe plate, substantially as and for formed with a slot, kerf or mortiseand a brace or stiffening-plate seated therein, said plate being curvededgewise and terminating at its inner end in suitable means integral 4:.A vehicle-shaft having its inner end I

